Hello there, I want to buy a workstation to edit hd movies. I'm not rich, no, but dedicated, willing to work hard to buy this baby, any suggestions?
Never owned a Mac before, I was going to buy a Mac Pro last week, but SOOOO lucky I didn't because now I know to wait for Penryn.
I need to edit HDV. And I want to end up with a set up where I can edit uncompressed HD (can you edit 4k hd footage on a MacPro?) when the big HD cameras become accessible. Okay, if not that, at least HDV/DVCPRO HD in FCP, with Logic and Shake running smoothly.
My original intended MP configuration was:
3GHz core duo
8Gb Ram (1gb x 8 because 2gb x 4 is 1K more and I am hoping that when technology requires me to have more than 8gs ram I should be able buy a new Mac, no?)
ATI Radeon 512mb
Bay 1 750 GB
2 LCDs and other external hDDS from elsewhere
(that was before deciding to wait for Penryn,) even then some questions:
1) do I need a Raid Card? (expensive!) Can I have the 750gb as software, and keep all media/video files on external hardrives (no project would individually have more than 1tb/750gb in storage requirements, yet, so for each project I can just plug and access and do an online edit, or no? is a 2gb ram stick advantages in speed over a 1gb due to its physical make-up?, does a 2gb take up 1 slot? or 2?)
2) should I fill three other bays with 750gb? (expensive!...but quality) (as above, won't lots and lots of external hardrives do? This would mean endless expansion as there is no link between the media/source drives)
3) Intensity Card: do I need one? (I am think of a tapless HDD to HDD workflow, so P2 cards/firefire connectsion/portable eg Sony media HDDS, and reviewing on two LCDS, that is all the visual output require for me to edit...)
4) Get 2 Superdrives? That way I can burn double layer dvds faster?
5) HD playback/rendering/grading/compositing/sound design...would I be better off with a bigger boot drive so that it runs smoother ie RAID the internal BAYS 1&2 or 1 to 4?
6) A better graphics card? get RAM from somewhere else? (but I've never opened up a Mac) Where does the RAID card go: if I get it later is it easy to put in? Raid card from somewhere else, any names?
7) Setup suggestions for new Mac Pros with Penryn?
Any help would be great thank you


Never owned a Mac before, I was going to buy a Mac Pro last week, but SOOOO lucky I didn't because now I know to wait for Penryn.
I need to edit HDV. And I want to end up with a set up where I can edit uncompressed HD (can you edit 4k hd footage on a MacPro?) when the big HD cameras become accessible. Okay, if not that, at least HDV/DVCPRO HD in FCP, with Logic and Shake running smoothly.
My original intended MP configuration was:
3GHz core duo
8Gb Ram (1gb x 8 because 2gb x 4 is 1K more and I am hoping that when technology requires me to have more than 8gs ram I should be able buy a new Mac, no?)
ATI Radeon 512mb
Bay 1 750 GB
2 LCDs and other external hDDS from elsewhere
(that was before deciding to wait for Penryn,) even then some questions:
1) do I need a Raid Card? (expensive!) Can I have the 750gb as software, and keep all media/video files on external hardrives (no project would individually have more than 1tb/750gb in storage requirements, yet, so for each project I can just plug and access and do an online edit, or no? is a 2gb ram stick advantages in speed over a 1gb due to its physical make-up?, does a 2gb take up 1 slot? or 2?)
2) should I fill three other bays with 750gb? (expensive!...but quality) (as above, won't lots and lots of external hardrives do? This would mean endless expansion as there is no link between the media/source drives)
3) Intensity Card: do I need one? (I am think of a tapless HDD to HDD workflow, so P2 cards/firefire connectsion/portable eg Sony media HDDS, and reviewing on two LCDS, that is all the visual output require for me to edit...)
4) Get 2 Superdrives? That way I can burn double layer dvds faster?
5) HD playback/rendering/grading/compositing/sound design...would I be better off with a bigger boot drive so that it runs smoother ie RAID the internal BAYS 1&2 or 1 to 4?
6) A better graphics card? get RAM from somewhere else? (but I've never opened up a Mac) Where does the RAID card go: if I get it later is it easy to put in? Raid card from somewhere else, any names?
7) Setup suggestions for new Mac Pros with Penryn?
Any help would be great thank you